Luna Moths

Book excerpt: See for yourself one of the most amazing masters of change in the insect kingdom the luna moth! Hatching from a tiny egg, the luna moth begins its life as a caterpillar just 0.11 inch (3 millimeters) long. An eating machine, the caterpillar grows and sheds its skin or molts four times. Then it stitches a silk cocoon among the fallen leaves and becomes a pupa. Inside the pupa, the insect's body dissolves and reforms. After about six months, the insect emerges as a beautiful luna moth with a wingspan of up to 5 inches (127 millimeters) more than 40 times its original size! In this exciting book, you can learn what makes luna moths similar to and different from other insects. Close-up photographs and diagrams reveal extraordinary details about moths' bodies, both inside and out. This book contains directions for creating a moth garden, where you can watch new moths emerge. Learn more about this exciting member of nature's fascinating Insect World.